CRISPR technology advancing bioanalytical chemistry
X. Chris Le
Distinguished University Professor
University of Alberta
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
11 a.m.
In-person: C2-361
Abstract: CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) and CRISPR-associated (Cas) protein systems have revolutionized genome engineering. CRISPR-Cas systems also advance analytical and environmental sciences. This presentation will briefly introduce CRISPR technology and discuss several examples of CRISPR techniques: (1) a genome-editing nanomachine constructed with a CRISPR system, (2) CRISPR technology incorporated in single-cell RNA sequencing, and (3) integration of CRISPR with isothermal amplification techniques for molecular detection of nucleic acids. The genome-editing nanomachine uses the sequence-specific recognition, unwinding, and nicking ability of the Cas9 system. The analytical techniques take advantage of the trans-cleavage activity of Cas12 and Cas13, which generates amplified signal outputs for detection. Successful integrations of CRISPR with isothermal amplification techniques, such as loop mediated amplification (LAMP) and recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), result in highly sensitive and specific detection of diverse molecular targets. Examples of detecting specific bacterial and viral sequences in nasopharyngeal swabs, saliva, skin swabs, and wastewater demonstrate clinical and environmental applications of the CRISPR-based analytical technology.
Dr. X Chris Le is Distinguished University Professor and Director of the Analytical and Environmental Toxicology Division. He holds appointments in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Department of Chemistry, and School of Public Health at the University of Alberta. Dr. Le received BSc in chemistry (1983) from Wuhan University, MSc in environmental chemistry (1986) from the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, a second MSc in analytical chemistry (1988) from Brock University, and PhD in analytical/environmental chemistry (1993) from the University of British Columbia. He carried out postdoctoral research (1994) in bioanalytical chemistry at the University of Alberta. He was recruited to the Faculty of Medicine in 1995, promoted to full professor in 2003, and awarded Distinguished University Professor title in 2011. Dr. Le has mentored more than 120 graduate students and postdoctoral associates. His team’s research is in interdisciplinary areas of analytical chemistry and environmental health sciences. The team has developed ultrasensitive bioanalytical techniques that enable studies of environmental contaminants, nucleic acids, proteins, and biomarkers of exposure and effects. Dr. Le has published more than 300 journal articles and holds 15 patents. Dr. Le is an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Academy of Science (since 2010). He previously received an E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (2000), Canada Research Chair in Bio-analytical Technology and Environmental Health (2001-2017), the W.A.E. McBryde Medal (2002) and the Maxxam Award for Analytical Chemistry (2011) from the Canadian Society for Chemistry, the Environment Research and Development Award (2011) from the Chemical Institute of Canada. He also received the Martha Cook Piper Research Prize (2000), the Award for Excellence in Mentoring (2009), and the University Cup (2018) from the University of Alberta. Dr. Le is an Associate Editor for Analytical Chemistry (American Chemical Society) and Co-Editor-in-Chief for Journal of Environmental Sciences (Elsevier). He also served/serves as an editorial board member for 10 other international journals on the topics of chemistry and environment.